Glassware-annealing leer



June '10, 1930.

A. N. CRAMER GLAsswAEE ANNEALNG LEER 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 2 Filed April 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x u 0 N////// ;In bente@ Jun 1o,- 1930.

A. N. CRAMER GLAS SWARE ANNEALING LEER Filed April 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 through bottom' and side Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT N. CRAMEny OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO OWENS-ILLINQIS GLASS COM- PANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, .A CORPORATION OF OHIO GLASSWARE-AN NEALIN G LEER Application filed April 2, 1927. Serial No. 180,580.

The present invention relates to improvements in glassware annealing leers.

In Operating leers of'present day constructon in which the Ware is conveyed through a relatively long tunnel, more or 'less ditficulty is encountered in maintaining uniform temperature conditions in the annealng or heating zone wherein the warc is intended to be heated to a relatively high degree. Lack of uniform distribution of the annealing medium is due in part to the natural tendency of the medium to rise into the upper portion of the annealing chamber, leaving a relatively cool lower area in proximity to the Ware conveyor and bottoms of the ware being treated.

Another cause of these objectionable conditions is the radiation of hea t from the side walls of the leer tunnel, such condition forming relatively cool areas adjacent the sides of the leer tunnel. Thus, it is seen that with such existing' conditions, the problem' of properly heating the bottoms of the ware and heating' the body portions of the ware at the sides of the leer tunnel to a degree corresponding to that to which the Ware along the center of'the leer is heated, must be solved in order to properly anneal glassware.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above objections by providing a leer Construction which will eliminate the presence of relatively cool side and .bottom areas in the Ware receving tunnel, thereby providing for uniformity in heating the Ware during its passage through the annealing zone. To this end the invention comprises the provision of suction boxes at. spaced intervals along) the Ware receiving tunnel, said suction oxes communicating with the interior of the annealing chamber passageways. These suction boxes may be adjusted to exhaust the relatively cool annealing medium from the side and bottom areas of the tunnel, said exhausted relatively cool medium being replaced by hot anneal'ng medium. The suction boxes have ppe connectionwith a. heating unit located at the forward end of the leer adapted to reheat the exhausted annealing medium just prior to recirculation through the annealing chamber. w

4 tion boxes and a fan which is arranged in the circulating system for the annealng medium.

Fig 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line III--III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the suction boxes, parts being broken away to disclose the control ampers.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the leer includes longitudinal base members 5 which may be in the form of channel iron units. These base members 5 sup ort ver tical side walls 6 whose upper en s are in ter-connected by a cover or ceiling ortion 7. The side walls and ceiling may be ormed of any suitable insulating material. Arranged at the forward end of the leer is a heating unit comprising a combustion chamber 8 from which products of combustio are exhausted and ass over 'the surfaces and betweenaplura ity of tubes which form a recu-' perator .9. This recuperator, and a rear- Wardly 4 .extending horizontal plate 25 arranged in a horizontal plane with the lower side of the recuprator, are spaced slightly above the level of the base members 5, pro vidinga longitudinal flue 90 throghwhch products of combustion are exhausted from the recuperator to the atmosphere by way of a stack (not shown). An endless Ware conveyor 10 runs over vertically spaced sprocket wheels 11 at the forward end of the leer, the lower reach ofthe conveyor running through said flue 90, while the upper reach is spaced slightly above the recuperator and combustion chamber and extends lengthwise of the leer providingmens to receive and Convey ware through the leer tunnel 12.

Suction boxes 15 are spaced along the leer and provide communication between the interior of the tunnel and an insulated return pipe 16 having connection-with a suction fan 17 which forces the annealing medium exhausted from the leer tunnel, to return to the recuperator for reheatingby way'of the return pipe 16 and apassageway 18. The return pipe 16 and the assageway 18 are con nected to the fan 17 y transverse pipes 20 and 21 (Figs. 1 and 2). Each suction box comprises a pair of transversely spaced Vertical pipe sections 22, said sections preferbly 'being rectangular in cross section and having their u per and lower ends closed; The upper en s of these pipe sections are closed b a ceiling plate 23 which extends across t e leer tunnel 12 (Figs. 3 and 4). These vertical pipes 22 are interconnected by a transverse pipe 24 of substantially the same cross sectional shape as the vertical pipes. This transverse pipe 24 is arranged in proximity to the lower side of the upper reach of the ware conveyor 10 and in part supports angle iron units 50 which mount anti-:triction rollers 26 over which the Ware conveyor runs. The up er wall 27 of the transverse pipe 24 and tl e inner walls 28 of the vertical pipes 22 at points above the first named pipes are provided with a plurality of openings 29 w ich form communication between the interior of the leer tunnel and said pipes. The vertical pipes 22 of each suction box are formedwith 'outlet openings 30 at points spaced below the transverse pipe 24 providing communication 'between each suction box 15 and the return passageway 16 for the annealin medium heretofore described. In order t at the annealing medium may be exhausted from the sides and bottom o'f the annealing chamber at relatively different rates of speed into an selected single suction box or boxes,` va ves are provided in each suction box whereby certain sets of the openin s may be entirely eliminated from the path o circulation or have their etfectiveness varied according to the particular conditions to be met. The transverse passageway 24 or pipe which interconnects the two vertical pipes 22 is provided with a hinged val've plate 35 at each end, the position-of said plate being controllable by adjusting rods 36 extending through the side walls 6 of the leer. By manipulating these rods 36, the transverse passageway 24 may be entirely eliminated from the path of circulation of the annealing medium or have its effectiveness varied as conditions require. Each vertical pipe 22 of a suction box is provided with a slide valve 37 which may be moved across the corresponding pipe 22 to any desired degree to thereby vary the quantity of annealing medium exhausted through the openings in the upper ends of said pipes. If the Ware bottoms are being sufliciently heated without opening the valves 35 at the ends of the transverse passageway 24, said valve should be left closed. By leaving the other valves open, the hot annealing medium is distributed transverselv of the tunnel and exhausted into the suction boxes 15 for re turn to the recuperator.

In operation, ware is placed upon the endless conve or 10 and is slowly carried through the annea ing or heating zone above and real'- wardly of the heating unit where the ware temperature is raised to the proper degree. From this annealing zone, the ware passes on toward the delivery end of the leer and during such movement the Ware temperature is gradually reduced. The annealing medium is forced by the s'uction fan to circulate through the recuperator and move rear- 'wardly through the ware receiving tunnel over and in contact with the surfaces of the ware. At predetermined points, the annealin medium is exhausted from the Ware receiving tunnel and returned to the recuperator 9 for reheating and recirculation through the annealing chamber. e

By adjustment of the valves or dampers in one or more of the suction boxes 15, the length and the heating etlectiveness of the annealing zone of the lear tunnel may be readily Varied as required by the nature of the articles being annealed. The annealing zone may be closed off from the remainder of the leer tunnel to a greater or less degree by lowering one of the curtains 40 located between the suction boxes 15. By closing the hinged valves 35 at opposite ends of the transverse passageway 24 in each suction box, the annealing medium is caused to exhaust directly into the upper portions of the vertical pipes 22 of the suction boxes 15 'through the openings in the inner side walls of said pipes. This movement of the annealing medium causes displacement of the relatively cool medium adjacent the side walls and re lacement with normal hot annealing medium. As previously stated, in leers of ordinary Construction, there is a tendency for the heatto radiate from the side walls to such-an extent -that said relatively cool areas are created. uch circulation and exhaust of the annealing medium insures uniformity of temperature conditions transversely of the leer, with the result that all of the ware is uniformly heated. .In the event the Ware bottoms show that they have not been sufliciently heated in the annealing zone, the hinged valve plates 35 at the opposite ends of the transverse passageways 24 must be opened so asto permit exhaust of a portion of the annealing medium into said transverse passageway. By so dividing the annealing medium that portions are exhausted through the transverse passageway, the comparatively cool annealing medium along the bottom of the leer will be exhausted and replaced by hot annealing medium. By opening the entire set of valves in a single suction box, uniformity of temerature in the annealing chamber is read ly attainable with the result that Ware passing through the leer will be evenly heated throughout .and properly tempered. It is also evident that by entirely closing all of the valves of any one or two suction boxes, the length of the annealing or heating zone maybe readily varied. If, for'example, the valves of the first suction-box, that is, the one nearestthe recuperator, are closed and the Valves of the next adjacent suction box are openedgthen' the effective annealing zone will extend from a. station over the heating unit, rearwardly to the second sution box or to a depending curtain "located rearwardly thereof. Also, it is evident that the effective'- ness of the anneaiing zone may be varied without changing its length. This is accomplished by leaving the valves of the second suction box open,` thereby eontrolling the length of the annealing zone and then opening certain of the valves in. the first suction box to 'a degree necessary to obtain the desired heating effectiveness in the annealng zone. Thus, conditions in the annealing zone may be varied without neceseitating manipulation of the fuel supply valves or in. any manner varying the operation of the heating unit. Simply by changing the relative adjustme'nt of the valves in the suction boxes 15, distribution of the annealing medium throughout the heatingzone is readily controllable.

Modifications ofthe above Construction may be made within the spirit and seope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A glassware annealing leer comprising an annealing chamber extending lengthwise ofthe leer,- a heating unit adjacent one end of the-leer, means causing 'circulation of an anne'aling medium through the heating unit and through the annealing chamber in a direction lengthwise of the leer, said means including a multiplicity of openings distributed` over the bottom and side walls 'of the annealing chamber, said openings confined to a narrow transverse section of the annealing chamber, permitting exhaust of the annealing medium from said chamber,

of the leer, and meanscausing continuous circulation of an annealng medium through ;i theheating unit, through the annealing chamber in the direction of its length, and selectivel'y through the suction boxes.

3. A glassware annealing leer comprising a .comparatively long, narrow annealing chamber, a heating unit adjacent one end of said chan1ber, suction boxes spaced at intervais along said chamber and having openings' 'providing communication with the interior .of the annealing; chamber through the sides of the latter at different zones lengthwise of said chamber means causing continuous' circulation of an annealing medium through. the heating unit and through the annealing chamber lengthwise thereof, adjustable means permitting circulation of the annealing medium selective'ly through predetermined ones of said suction boxes in Va- V riable quantities, and means to conduct the annealing medium from the selectedeuction' boxes to the heating unit for reheat'ng and recirculation through the anneahng chamber.

h A g assware annealing leer comprising,

an annealing chamber, a heating unit operable to contmuously supply an annealng medium to said chamber adjac'entone end thereof, suction boxes spaced along said chamberand having openings extending through the V walls thereof into the interier of the' chamber through the bottom of the latter, adjustable means permitting exhaust of the annealing medium through said bottom o enings into selected suction boxes, said ad ustable means being operable to' vary the rate of exhaust of the medium into the suction boxes,

and means to 'return the exhausted medium to the heating unit. I

5. A glassware ennealing leer comprising an annealing chamber, means 'causing con- .tinuous circulation of an annealing medium ber and Vertical pipes rising from tie ends of said transverse ipe'and having openings communicating with the interier of said chamber, and adjustable 'means permttng exhaust of the annealing medium from said chamber in varying quantities through said openings.

6. A glassware' annealing leer comprising an annealingchamber, means causing contnuous crculaton of a'n annealing' medum through said chamber, suction boxes spaced along the leer, each suction box including a transverse pipo having openings communicating with the interiot of the annealing chamber and vertical pipes rising from the ends of said transversepipe and having open'- ings communicating with theinterior of said chamber, and adjustable means to efl'ect variations in? the relative i'a-tes of exhaust of the annealing medium from said chamber iso through the openings in the vertical and transverse pipes.

7 A glassware annealing leer comprising an annealing chamber, means causing continuous circulation of an annealing medium through said chamber, suction boxes spaced along the leer, each suction box including a transverse pipe having openings communi cating with the interier of the annealing chamber and vertical pipes rising from the ends of said transverse pipe and having openings communicating with the interier of said chamber, and valves operable totclose the opposite ends of said transverse pipe.

8. A glassware annealing leer comprising an annealing chamber, means causing continuous circulation of an annealing medium through said chamber, suction boxes spaced along the leer, each suction box including u transverse pipe having openings communicating with the interior of the annealing chamber and Vertical pipes rsing from the ends of said transverse pipe and having openings communicating with the interier of said chamber, and valve means for closing the lower ends of the Vertical pipes.

9. A glassware annealing leer comprising an annealing chamber eXtending longitudinally thereof, a heating unit, means causing circulation ot' an' annealing medium through the heating unit and through said chamber in the direction of its length, a pipe extending transversely of the leer and said chamber and 'forming a portion of the annealing chamber bottom, said pipe having openings in itsupper side communicating with the interior of the annealing chamber at points distributed transversely of said chamber, and means Operating to cause exhaust of the annealing medium from the chamber through said pipe openings and return to the heating unit. i

10. A glassware annealing leer comprising an annealing chamber extending longitudinally of the leer, a heating unit, means causing continuous circulation of an annealing medium through the heating unit and through said chamber in the direction of its length, transversely spaced vertical pipes forming portions of the side walls of the annealing chamber and having openings in their inner side walls communicating with the interior of said chamber, and means operating to cause exhaust of the annealing medium from the chamber through said openn s and return to the heating unit.

11. glassware annealing leer comprising an annealing chamber extending lengthwise of the leer, a heating unit, means causing circulation of an annealing medium through the heating unit and through said chamber in thdirection of its length, a pipe extending transversely of the leer and said Cham ber and forming a ortion of the annealing chamber bottom, said pipe having openings in its upper side communicating with the in-,i

terior of the annealing 'chamber at points distributed transversely of said chamber, means Operating to cause exhaust of the an'- nealing medium from the chamber through said pipe openings and return to the heating unit, and valves operable to close the ends of said pipe, preventing passage of the annealing medium through the pipe to said heating unit.

12. A glassware annealing leer comprising an annealing chamber extendng length: wise of the leer, a heating unit, means causing continuous circulation of an annealing medium through the heating unit and through saidchamber in the direction of its length, transversely spaced vertical pipes forming portion of the side walls of the an nealing chamber and having openings in their nner side walls communicating with the interier of said chamber, means operating to cause exhaust of the annealing medium from the chamber through said openings and return to the heating unit, and valves operable to prevent passage of the annealing medium through said vertical pipes to the heating unit.

A leer for annealing glass articles comprsng an annealing chamber extending lengthwise of the leer, a conveyor extending through said chamber lengthwise thereof, a heating device' adjacent one end of said eham ber, and means for 'causing a continuous crculation of air through said heating device for heating the air and thence through the annealing chamber inthe direction of its length and backto the heating devicesaid crculating means including a suction box extending transversely of the annealing chamber and provided with openings extending through the floor of the chamber and distributed transversely of said chamber.

Signed at Toledo, in the County of-Lucas and State of Ohio, this 28th day'of March,

ALBERT N. CRAMER. 

